Image processing device, image processing system, and control method of image processing device

ABSTRACT

An image processing device includes a display unit and a processor configured to determine whether or not functions of the image processing device are executable by the image processing device, and cause the display unit to display a screen including a first item corresponding to a first function that is determined to be executable and a second item corresponding to a second function that is determined to be not executable. The first item is displayed on the screen in a first display format, and the second item is displayed on the screen in a second display format that is less conspicuous than the first display format.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/458,791, filed on Jul. 1, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/941,171, filed on Mar. 30, 2018, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,389,896, issued on Aug. 20, 2019, which is based upon andclaims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2017-121294, filed on Jun. 21, 2017, the entire contents of each ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image processingdevice, an image processing system, and a control method of the imageprocessing device.

BACKGROUND

Some image processing systems include a plurality of image formingapparatuses that are connected to a network such as a local area network(LAN). In such image processing systems, it is known for the pluralityof image forming apparatuses connected to the network to display acommon home screen, which may be customized. However, executablefunctions of the image forming apparatuses may be different. As such,when the image forming apparatuses display a common home screen, theremay be a case where an object such as a button corresponding to anunusable function is displayed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing system according to anembodiment, and a circuit configuration of main hardware components ofan image processing device which is included in the image processingsystem.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a common screen which is displayed on atouch panel in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a customized screen which is displayedon the touch panel in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram which illustrates an example of a table included ina user DB in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram which illustrates an example of a table included inthe user DB in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict a flowchart of control processing which isperformed by a processor of the image processing system in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of synchronization processing which is performedby the processor of the image processing system in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a screen which is displayed on thetouch panel in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a customized screen which is displayedon the touch panel in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate additional examples of a screen which isdisplayed on the touch panel in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments provide an image processing device, an image processingsystem, and a control method of the image processing device in which thepossibility of a user selecting an object corresponding to an unusablefunction is reduced.

In general, according to an embodiment, there is provided an imageprocessing device which includes a display unit and a processorconfigured to determine whether or not functions of the image processingdevice are executable by the image processing device, and cause thedisplay unit to display a screen including a first item corresponding toa first function that is determined to be executable and a second itemcorresponding to a second function that is determined to be notexecutable. The first item is displayed on the screen in a first displayformat, and the second item is displayed on the screen in a seconddisplay format that is less conspicuous than the first display format.

Hereinafter, an image processing system according to an embodiment willbe described, using drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing system 1 according tothe embodiment, and a circuit configuration of hardware components ofthe image processing system 1. The image processing system 1 includes aplurality of image processing devices 10. The respective imageprocessing devices 10 are connected to a network NW. The network NW is,for example, a communication network which includes a private networksuch as an intranet, an in-house LAN, or a home LAN. The network NW maybe a communication network including the Internet.

When a registered user, who is registered in advance, performs login inany one of the image processing devices 10, the image processing system1 causes the image processing device 10 to display a home screen whichis customized to the registered user who is logging on. That is, in astate in which a registered user does not log in, the common screen SC1as illustrated in FIG. 2 is displayed on the touch panel 16 of the imageprocessing device 10 as a home screen. In contrast to this, in a statein which a registered user logs in, a customized screen SC2 which isillustrated in FIG. 3 is displayed on the touch panel 16 of the imageprocessing device 10 as a home screen.

FIG. 2 is a diagram which illustrates an example of the common screenSC1. The common screen SC1 includes buttons B1 a to B1 i, a settingbutton Bs, and character strings S1 a to S1 j. The respective buttons B1a to B1 i correspond to functions mounted on the image processing device10 as standard (hereinafter, referred to as “standard functions”). Therespective buttons B1 a to B1 i are buttons for instructing the imageprocessing device 10 to execute the standard functions. The characterstrings S1 a to S1 j correspond to the buttons B1 a to B1 i,respectively, and are names which indicate what the buttons B1 a to B1 iare for. The setting button Bs is a button for instructing the imageprocessing device 10 to display a setting screen for checking orchanging setting of the image processing device 10 on the touch panel16. In addition, the buttons B1 a to B1 i are collectively referred toas a button B1. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the number of buttons B1 is anexample, and the number is not limited.

FIG. 3 is a diagram which illustrates an example of the customizedscreen SC2. The customized screen SC2 includes additional buttons B2Aand B2B, and character strings S2A and S2B, in addition to the sameelements as those in the common screen SC1. The respective additionalbuttons B2A and B2B correspond to a function, or the like, which isadditionally mounted on the image processing device 10 later(hereinafter, referred to as “additional function”). The additionalbuttons B2A and B2B are buttons for instructing the image processingdevice 10 to execute a corresponding additional function. The characterstrings S2A and S2B correspond to the additional buttons B2A and B2B,respectively, and are names which indicate what the additional buttonsB2A and B2B are for. In addition, the additional buttons B2A and B2B arecollectively referred to as an additional button B2. The number ofadditional buttons B2 illustrated in FIG. 3 is an example, and thenumber is not limited. The additional button is an example of an object.

The image processing device 10 is, for example, an image processingdevice such as a printer, a copy machine, or a multifunction peripheral(MFP). The image processing device 10 has various functions such asscanning, printing, and copying. In the image processing device 10,operations in a plurality of modes including a master mode and a slavemode are possible. In addition, in which mode the image processingdevice 10 is operated depends on its setting. The setting of the imageprocessing device 10 is changed based on operations on the touch panel16 and the input device 17, for example. In the image processing system1 illustrated in FIG. 1, one image processing device 10 is operated inthe master mode, and other image processing devices 10 are operated inthe slave mode. In addition, the image processing device 10 operated inthe master mode is referred to as an “image processing device 10M”. Inaddition, image processing devices 10 which are operated in the slavemode are referred to as “image processing devices 10S”. When it is notnecessary to distinguish between the master mode and the slave mode,e.g., when both of the master mode and the slave mode are set totargets, and the like, the image processing device is simply referred toas the “image processing device 10”.

The image processing device 10 includes a processor 11, a read onlymemory (ROM) 12, a random access memory (RAM) 13, an auxiliary storagedevice 14, a communication interface 15, a touch panel 16, the inputdevice 17, an image forming unit 18, an image reading unit 19, and a bus20.

The processor 11 corresponds to a nerve center of a computer whichperforms processing and control which are necessary for the operation ofthe image processing device 10. The processor 11 controls each unit ofthe image processing device 10 to execute various functions thereof,based on system software, application software, or firmware stored inthe ROM 12, the auxiliary storage device 14, or the like. The processor11 is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a micro processingunit (MPU), a system on a chip (SoC), a digital signal processor (DSP),a graphics processing unit (GPU), or the like. Alternatively, theprocessor 11 is a combination thereof. The processor 11 is an example ofa control unit.

The ROM 12 is a non-volatile memory which is read-only. The ROM 12stores the above described program(s). The ROM 12 also stores data,various setting values, or the like, which are used when the processor11 performs various processing.

The RAM 13 is a memory which is used in reading and writing of data. TheRAM 13 stores data which is temporarily used when the processor 11performs various processing, and is used as a so-called work area.

The auxiliary storage device 14 is, for example, an electric erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a solidstate drive (SSD), or the like. In addition, the image processing device10 may be provided with an interface such as a card slot into which arecording medium such as a memory card, or a universal serial bus (USB)memory can be inserted, instead of, or in addition to the auxiliarystorage device 14.

The auxiliary storage device 14 may also store the above describedprogram. In addition, the auxiliary storage device 14 keeps data whichis necessary when the processor 11 performs various processing, datagenerated by processing in processor 11, various setting values, or thelike. In addition, when application software for providing an additionalfunction on the image processing device 10 (hereinafter, referred to as“plugin application”) is installed, the auxiliary storage device 14stores the plugin application. The auxiliary storage device 14 of theimage processing device 10M stores various plugin applications in astate in which the plugin applications can be distributed to other imageprocessing devices 10S.

In addition, the auxiliary storage device 14 stores a user database (DB)141 including information related to each registered user. The user DB141 stores information which is necessary when displaying a customizedscreen for each of the registered users, and various information otherthan that, for each of the registered users, in association withrespective unique user identifiers (ID) which are associated with eachof the registered users. A user DB 141 stored in the image processingdevice 10M is referred to as a user DB 141M, and a user DB 141 stored inthe image processing device 10S is referred to as a user DB 141S. Inaddition, descriptions of a method in which a user who is not aregistered user becomes a registered user by registering variousinformation in the user DB 141 will be omitted, since this method iswell-known.

The auxiliary storage device 14 of the image processing device 10Mfurther stores a unique apparatus ID which is associated with therespective image processing devices 10, a list of plugin applicationswhich are installed, an installation location, and an IP address, withrespect to the respective image processing devices 10S and the imageprocessing device 10M.

The user DB 141M includes a table T1 which is illustrated in FIG. 4. Thetable T1 causes a user ID, and a unique function ID which is associatedwith the respective additional functions to be associated with eachother. An additional button corresponding to a function ID which isassociated with a user ID is displayed on a customized screencorresponding to the user ID.

The user DB 141S and the user DB 141M include, for example, a table T2which is illustrated in FIG. 6. The table T2 causes a user ID, afunction ID, and a display method corresponding to the respectivefunction IDs to be associated with each other. The display method showshow to display an additional button when displaying a customized screencorresponding to the user ID, in the image processing device 10 whichstores the table T2. The table T2 is an example of display data fordisplaying a screen which is synchronized among a plurality of imageprocessing devices.

The touch panel 16 functions as a display device which displays a screenfor informing an operator of the image processing device 10 of variousinformation. In addition, the touch panel 16 functions as an inputdevice which receives a touch operation of the operator. The touch panel16 is an example of a display unit which displays a screen. The displaydevice is an example of the display unit.

The input device 17 receives an operation of an operator of the imageprocessing device 10. The input device 17 is a keyboard, a mouse, atouch pad, or the like, for example.

The image forming unit 18 forms an image, or the like, on a sheet-shapedrecording medium such as paper. For this reason, the image forming unit18 is provided with a printer such as a laser printer, or an ink jetprinter, for example.

The image reading unit 19 reads an image from a sheet-shaped recordingmedium such as paper. For this reason, the image reading unit 19 isprovided with a scanner, or the like. The scanner is, for example, atype of a reduced optical system in which an imaging element such as acharge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor is provided. Alternatively, thescanner is, for example, a contact image sensor (CIS) type which isprovided with an imaging element such as a complementarymetal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. Alternatively, thescanner may be of other well-known types.

The bus 20 includes a control bus, an address bus, a data bus, or thelike, and transmits a signal which is delivered in each unit of theimage processing device 10.

Hereinafter, an operation of the image processing system 1 according tothe embodiment will be described based on FIGS. 2 to 12. In addition,contents of processing in the following operation descriptions are anexample, and it is possible to appropriately use various processing fromwhich the same result can be obtained.

FIGS. 6 to 8 are flowcharts of control processing using the processor 11of the image processing device 10S (hereinafter, referred to as“processor 11S”). The processor 11S executes the control processingbased on the control program stored in the ROM 12, the auxiliary storagedevice 14, or the like.

The processor 11S in Act 1 in FIG. 6 generates an image corresponding tothe common screen SC1 which is illustrated in FIG. 2. In addition, theprocessor 11S instructs the touch panel 16 to display the generatedimage. Upon receiving the instruction, the touch panel 16 displays thecommon screen SC1. The common screen SC1 is a screen which is displayedon the touch panel 16 when a registered user has not logged in.

In Act 2, the processor 11S determines whether or not a login operationis performed. The processor 11S determines No in Act 2, and proceeds toAct 3, when a login operation is not performed.

In Act 3, the processor 11S determines whether or not an operation otherthan the login operation is performed. When an operation other than thelogin operation is not performed, the processor 11S determines No in Act3, and returns to Act 2. In this manner, the processor 11S repeats Act 2and Act 3 until some operation is performed.

When an operation other than the login operation is performed in astandby state in Act 2 and Act 3, the processor 11S determines Yes inAct 3, and proceeds to Act 4.

In Act 4, the processor 11S performs processing corresponding to theoperation. The processor 11S returns to Act 2 after the processing inAct 4.

An operator who logs into the image processing device 10S performs thefollowing login operation. That is, the operator operates the touchpanel 16 and the input device 17, for example, and inputs a passwordcorresponding to a user ID. Alternatively, for example, the operatorcauses his ID card to be read by a card reader provided in the imageprocessing device 10S. The ID card stores information such as a user IDwhich is necessary for login.

When a login operation is performed in the standby state in Act 2 andAct 3, the processor 11S determines Yes in Act 2, and proceeds to Act 5.

In Act 5, the processor 11S determines whether or not it is successfulin login. In addition, the processor 11S determines whether or not thelogin is successful by referring to the user DB 141S or the user DB141M, for example. In addition, since it is possible to use a well-knownmethod for processing the login, descriptions thereof will be omitted.When the login is successful, the processor 11S determines Yes in Act 5,and proceeds to Act 6. Hereinafter, a user ID of a user which issuccessful in login will be referred to as a “login user ID”.

In Act 6, the processor 11S performs synchronization processingillustrated in FIG. 8.

In Act 31 in FIG. 8, the processor 11S generates a request forrequesting a transmission of the table T1 to the image processing device10M. In addition, the processor 11S instructs the communicationinterface 15 to transmit the generated request to the image processingdevice 10M. Upon receiving the request, the communication interface 15transmits the request to the image processing device 10M. Thetransmitted request is received by a communication interface 15 of theimage processing device 10M. After the processing in Act 31, theprocessor 11S proceeds to Act 32.

Meanwhile, a processor 11 of the image processing device 10M(hereinafter, referred to as “processor 11M”) stands by to receive arequest using the communication interface 15. When a request isreceived, the processor 11M instructs the communication interface 15 totransmits the table T1 to the image processing device 10S. Uponreceiving the instruction, the communication interface 15 transmits thetable T1 to the image processing device 10S. The transmitted table T1 isreceived by the communication interface 15 of the image processingdevice 10S.

Meanwhile, in Act 32, the processor 11S of the image processing device10S stands by to receive the table T1 using the communication interface15. Upon receiving the table T1, the processor 11S determines Yes in Act32, and proceeds to Act 33.

In Act 33, the processor 11S causes a portion of the table T2 related tothe login user ID to synchronize with the table T1. That is, theprocessor 11S compares a record in the table T1, in which a value of auser ID field is the login user ID with a record in the table T2, inwhich a value of a user ID field is the login user ID. In addition, whenthere is a functional ID which is included in the table T1, but it isnot included in the table T2, in the compared record, the processor 11Sadds a new record to the table T2 for each of the functional IDs. Inaddition, the processor 11S sets a value of a user ID field of the newrecord to a login user ID, a value of a functional ID field to thefunctional ID, and a value of a display method field to “not set yet”.In addition, when there is a functional ID which is included in thetable T2, but it is not included in the table T1, in the comparedrecord, the processor 11S deletes the record for that functional ID inthe table T2. After the processing in Act 33, the processor 11S proceedsto Act 34.

In Act 34, the processor 11S checks whether or not there is anadditional button of which a display method to display in a customizedscreen related to a user who is in the middle of logging in, has notbeen set yet. That is, the processor 11S checks whether or not there isa record in which a value of the user ID field is the login user ID, andof which a display method is not set yet, in the table T2. When there isan additional button of which a display method is not set yet, theprocessor 11S determines Yes in Act 34, and proceeds to Act 35.

In Act 35, the processor 11S selects one additional button which isdetermined to be Yes in the processing in Act 34. That is, the processor11S selects one record for which a display method is not set yet in Act35. After the processing in Act 35, the processor 11S proceeds to Act36.

In Act 36, the processor 11S determines whether or not it is possible touse the function corresponding to the additional button selected in Act35 (such function referred to hereinafter as “the additional function”).That is, the processor 11S determines whether or not it is possible touse the additional function which is specified in a function ID includedin the record which is selected in Act 35. In addition, the case inwhich the additional function is unusable is, for example, where aplugin application corresponding to the additional function(hereinafter, referred to as “corresponding plugin application”) is notinstalled in the image processing device 10S. When the correspondingadditional function can be used, the processor 11S determines Yes in Act36, and proceeds to Act 42. In contrast to this, when the correspondingadditional function is unusable, the processor 11S determines No in Act36, and proceeds to Act 37.

The processing in Act 36 is an example of processing to determinewhether the additional function is executable or non-executable.

In Act 37, the processor 11S determines whether or not the imageprocessing device 10S is set so that a corresponding plugin applicationis to be installed. When it is set so that the corresponding pluginapplication is to be installed, the processor 11S determines Yes in Act37, and proceeds to Act 38.

In Act 38, the processor 11S determines whether or not it is possible toinstall the corresponding plugin application. Here, the case in which itis not possible to install the plugin application is a case, forexample, in which the image processing device 10S is not compatible withthe plugin application for the reason that the image processing device10S cannot operate the plugin application, or the like. Alternatively,for example, there is a case in which the number of plugin applicationsto be installed is limited due to a license of the plugin application,and the number reached the upper limit, or the like. Such adetermination is performed, for example, by asking the image processingdevice 10M. When it is possible to install the corresponding pluginapplication, the processor 11S determines Yes in Act 38, and proceeds toAct 39.

In Act 39, the processor 11S causes the touch panel 16 to display ascreen for asking an operator of the image processing device 10S whetheror not the corresponding plugin application should be installed. Forthis reason, the processor 11S generates an image corresponding to thescreen. In addition, the processor 11S instructs the touch panel 16 todisplay the generated image. Upon receiving the instruction, the touchpanel 16 displays the screen. The screen is a screen illustrated in FIG.9, for example. FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a screen displayed onthe touch panel 16. The screen includes a popup P1. The popup P1includes the character string S11, and the buttons B11 and B12. Thecharacter string S11 includes a character string which indicates thatthe corresponding plugin application is not installed, and a characterstring which asks whether or not to install the corresponding pluginapplication. An example of the character string S11 is “There is noapplication. Do you want to install the application?” The button B11 isa button for instructing the image processing device 10S to install thecorresponding plugin application. The button B12 is a button forinstructing the image processing device 10S not to install thecorresponding plugin application. After the processing in Act 39, theprocessor 11S finishes displaying of the popup P1, and proceeds to Act40, when the button B11 or B12 is operated.

In Act 40, the processor 11S determines whether or not to install thecorresponding plugin application. When it is instructed that theinstallation of the corresponding plugin application is to be performed,for example, by an operation of the button B11, or the like, theprocessor 11S determines to install the corresponding pluginapplication. When the corresponding plugin application is installed, theprocessor 11S determines Yes in Act 40, and proceeds to Act 41.

In Act 41, the processor 11S installs the corresponding pluginapplication. In addition, the processor 11S obtains the correspondingplugin application to be installed from the image processing device 10M,for example. After the processing in Act 41, the processor 11S proceedsto Act 42.

In Act 42, the processor 11S sets the additional button selected in Act35 so as to be normally displayed. That is, the processor 11S sets avalue of field of a display method of the record which is selected inAct 35 to a “normal display”. After the processing in Act 42, theprocessor 11S returns to Act 34.

Meanwhile, when the image processing device 10S is not set so that thecorresponding plugin application is to be installed, the processor 11Sdetermines No in Act 37, and proceeds to Act 43. In addition, when it isnot possible to install the corresponding plugin application, theprocessor 11S determines No in Act 38, and proceeds to Act 43. Inaddition, in Act 40, when it is instructed so as not to install thecorresponding plugin application, for example, by an operation of thebutton B12, or the like, the processor 11S determines so as not toinstall the corresponding plugin application. When the correspondingplugin application is not installed, the processor 11S determines No inAct 40, and proceeds to Act 43.

In Act 43, the processor 11S determines whether or not the imageprocessing device 10S is set so that the additional button is displayedusing a dotted line, to indicate that the additional functioncorresponding to the additional button is unusable. When the additionalbutton is set to be displayed using a dotted line, the processor 11Sdetermines Yes in Act 43, and proceeds to Act 44.

In Act 44, the processor 11S sets the additional button selected in Act35 to be displayed using a dotted line. That is, the processor 11S setsa value of field of a display method of the record which is selected inAct 35 to a “dotted line display”. After the processing in Act 44, theprocessor 11S proceeds to Act 45.

In contrast to this, when the additional button is not set to the dottedline display, in a case in which it is not possible to use theadditional function corresponding to the additional button, theprocessor 11S determines No in Act 43, and proceeds to Act 45.

In Act 45, the processor 11S determines whether or not the additionalbutton is set to non-display, in a case in which it is not possible touse the additional function corresponding to the additional button. Whenthe additional button is set to non-display, in a case in which it isnot possible to use the additional function corresponding to theadditional button, the processor 11S determines Yes in Act 45, andproceeds to Act 46.

In Act 46, the processor 11S sets so that the additional button selectedin Act 35 is set to non-display. That is, the processor 11S sets a valueof field of a display method of the record which is selected in Act 35to “non-display”. After the processing in Act 46, the processor 11Sreturns to Act 34.

In contrast to this, when the additional button is not set tonon-display in a case in which it is not possible to use the additionalfunction corresponding to the additional button, the processor 11Sdetermines No in Act 45, and returns to Act 42.

In this manner, the processor 11S repeats Act 34 to Act 46 until thereis no additional button which is determined to be Yes in the processingin Act 34, that is, until there is no record which is to be determinedto be Yes in the processing in Act 34. In addition, when there is noadditional button of which a display method is not set on a customizedscreen related to a user who is in the middle of logging in, theprocessor 11S determines Yes in Act 34, and finishes the synchronizationprocessing illustrated in FIG. 8. The processor 11S finishes theprocessing in Act 6 in FIG. 6 according to finishing of thesynchronization processing, and proceeds to Act 7.

In Act 7, the processor 11S generates an image corresponding to acustomized screen SC3 which is illustrated in FIG. 10, with reference tothe table T2. An additional button B2 corresponding to an additionalfunction which is specified in a function ID included in a record inwhich a value of field of a user ID is a login user ID is displayed onthe customized screen SC3. However, when a value of field of the displaymethod of the record is the “normal display”, the additional button B2is displayed without a change in appearance, as illustrated in theadditional button B2A. However, when a value of field of the displaymethod is a “display using a dotted line”, as illustrated in theadditional button B2B, an appearance of the button is displayed by beingchanged to a dotted line. In addition, when a value of field of thedisplay method is “non-display”, the additional button B2 is notdisplayed on the customized screen SC3, and also the character string S2corresponding to the additional button B2 is not displayed. In addition,the processor 11S instructs the touch panel 16 to display the generatedimage. Upon receiving the instruction, the touch panel 16 displays thecustomized screen SC3. After the processing in Act 7, the processor 11Sproceeds to Act 8.

A display method of the additional button B2 when a value of field ofthe display method is the “normal display” is an example of a firstdisplay format. A display method of the additional button B2 when avalue of field of the display method is the “display using a dottedline” is an example of a second display format.

In Act 8, the processor 11S determines whether or not the setting buttonBs is operated. When the setting button Bs is not operated, theprocessor 11S determines No in Act 8, and proceeds to Act 9.

In Act 9, the processor 11S determines whether or not a condition forlogout is satisfied. When an operation for instructing logout isperformed, the processor 11S determines that the condition for logout issatisfied. Alternatively, when a non-operation time exceeds a certaintime, the processor 11S determines that the condition for logout issatisfied. When the condition for logout is not satisfied, the processor11S determines No in Act 9, and proceeds to Act 10.

In Act 10, the processor 11S determines whether or not any one ofadditional button B2 is operated. When the additional button is notoperated, the processor 11S determines No in Act 10, and proceeds to Act8. In this manner, the processor 11S repeats Act 8 to Act 10 until anyone of buttons B2 is operated, depending on whether the setting buttonBs is operated or the logout condition is satisfied.

When the setting button Bs is operated in the standby state of Act 8 toAct 10, the processor 11S determines Yes in Act 8, and proceeds to Act11.

In Act 11, the processor 11S generates an image corresponding to thesetting screen. In addition, the processor 11S instructs the touch panel16 to display the generated image. Upon receiving the instruction, thetouch panel 16 displays the setting screen. On the setting screen, abutton for performing various setting, a button for returning to thecustomized screen SC3, or the like, is displayed. After the processingin Act 11, the processor 11S proceeds to Act 12.

In Act 12, the processor 11S determines whether or not the button forreturning is operated. When the button for returning is not operated,the processor 11S determines No in Act 12, and proceeds to Act 13.

In Act 13, the processor 11S determines whether or not an operation forchanging setting is performed. When the operation of instructing achange in setting is not performed, the processor 11S determines No inAct 13, and proceeds to Act 14. In this manner, the processor 11Srepeats Act 12 and Act 13 until the button for returning is operated, orthe operation of instructing a change in setting is performed.

When the button for returning is operated in the standby state in Act 12and Act 13, the processor 11S determines Yes in Act 12, and returns toAct 7.

When the operation of instructing a change in setting is performed inthe standby state of Act 12 and Act 13, the processor 11S determines Yesin Act 13, and proceeds to Act 14.

In Act 14, the processor 11S changes setting according to operationcontents in Act 13. Here, the setting can be changed to any of thefollowing:

(1) Setting of whether or not a corresponding plugin application shouldbe installed. By changing the setting, whether the processor 11Sdetermines Yes in the processing in Act 37, or determines No is changed.

(2) Setting of whether or not the additional button is displayed using adotted line, when an additional function corresponding to the additionalbutton is unusable. By changing the setting, whether the processor 11Sdetermines Yes or No in the processing in Act 43 is changed.

(3) Setting of whether or not an additional button is set tonon-display, when it is not possible to use an additional functioncorresponding to an additional button. By changing the setting, whetherthe processor 11S determines Yes or No in the processing in Act 45 ischanged.

(4) Setting of a display method of an additional button. By changing thesetting, it is possible to select an appearance of the additional buttonof which corresponding additional function is unusable. When changingthe setting, the processor 11S rewrites the table T2 according to thechange in setting.

(5) Setting of whether or not information related to the imageprocessing device 10S in which the additional function can be used isdisplayed, when an additional button in which corresponding additionalfunction is unusable is operated. By changing the setting, whether theprocessor 11S determines Yes or No in the processing in Act 21 ischanged.

(6) Setting of whether or not an additional button is set tonon-display, when the additional button in which correspondingadditional function is unusable is operated. By changing the setting,whether the processor 11S determines Yes or No in the processing in Act24 is changed.

(7) Setting of instructing a deletion of an additional button which isdisplayed on the customized screen SC3. When an instruction of deletingan additional button is given, the processor 11S deletes the recordcorresponding to the additional button from the table T2. In addition,the processor 11S transmits the table T2 to the image processing device10M. The image processing device 10M which received the table T2 updatesthe table T1, and causes the table T1 to synchronize with the table T2.That is, the image processing device 10M deletes the same record as therecord which is deleted in the table T2 from the table T1.

(8) Setting of instructing an addition of an additional button which isdisplayed on the customized screen SC3. When the instruction of addingthe additional button is performed, the processor 11S adds a recordcorresponding to the additional button to the table T2. In addition, theprocessor 11S transmits the table T2 to the image processing device 10Mby controlling the communication interface 15. The image processingdevice 10M which received the table T2 updates the table T1, and causesthe table T1 to synchronize with the table T2. That is, the imageprocessing device 10M adds the same record as the record added to thetable T2 to the table T1.

After the processing in Act 14, the processor 11S returns to Act 12.

When a condition for logout is satisfied in the standby state in Act 8to Act 10, the processor 11S determines Yes in Act 9, performsprocessing related to logout, and returns to Act 1.

When any one of buttons B2 is operated in the standby state in Act 8 toAct 10, the processor 11S determines Yes in Act 10, and proceeds to Act15 in FIG. 7. In addition, the additional button B2 which is operatedhere is referred to as an “operation button”, hereinafter.

In Act 15, the processor 11S determines whether or not it is possible touse an additional function corresponding to an operation button. Inaddition, the case in which it is not possible to use the additionalfunction is, for example, a case in which a plugin application(hereinafter, referred to as “corresponding plugin application”)corresponding to the additional function is not installed in the imageprocessing device 10S. When it is possible to use the additionalfunction corresponding to the operation button, the processor 11Sdetermines Yes in Act 15, and proceeds to Act 20. In contrast to this,when it is not possible to use the additional function corresponding tothe operation button, the processor 11S determines No in Act 15, andproceeds to Act 16.

In Act 16, the processor 11S determines whether or not it is possible toinstall a corresponding plugin application, similarly to Act 38. When itis possible to install the corresponding plugin application, theprocessor 11S determines Yes in Act 16, and proceeds to Act 17.

In Act 17, the processor 11S causes the touch panel 16 to display ascreen which asks an operator of the image processing device 10S whetherthe corresponding plugin application should be installed or not,similarly to Act 39. After the processing in Act 17, when the button B11or B12 is operated, the processor 11S finishes a display of the popupP1, and proceeds to Act 18.

In Act 18, the processor 11S determines whether or not to install thecorresponding plugin application, similarly to Act 40. When thecorresponding plugin application is to be installed, the processor 11Sdetermines Yes in Act 18, and proceeds to Act 19.

In Act 19, the processor 11S installs the corresponding pluginapplication, similarly to Act 41. After the processing in Act 19, theprocessor 11S proceeds to Act 20.

In Act 20, the processor 11S executes an additional functioncorresponding to the operation button. After the processing in Act 20,the processor 11S returns to Act 7 in FIG. 6.

Meanwhile, when it is not possible to install the corresponding pluginapplication, the processor 11S determines No in Act 16 in FIG. 7, andproceeds to Act 21. In addition, in Act 18, when it is instructed so asnot to install the corresponding plugin application, by operating thebutton B12, or the like, the processor 11S determines not to install thecorresponding plugin application. When the corresponding pluginapplication is not installed, the processor 11S determines No in Act 18,and proceeds to Act 21.

In Act 21, when the additional button in which a correspondingadditional function is unusable is operated, the processor 11Sdetermines whether or not information related to the image processingdevices 10 which can use the additional function is set to be displayed.When it is set so that the information related to the image processingdevices which can use the additional function is to be displayed, theprocessor 11S determines Yes in Act 21, and proceeds to Act 22.

In Act 22, the processor 11S causes the touch panel 16 to display ascreen containing the information related to the image processingdevices 10 which can use the additional function. For this reason, theprocessor 11S generates an image corresponding to the screen. Inaddition, the processor 11S instructs the touch panel 16 to display thegenerated image. Upon receiving the instruction, the touch panel 16displays the screen. The screen is, for example, the screen illustratedin FIG. 11. FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a screen which isdisplayed on the touch panel 16. The screen includes the popup P2. Thepopup P2 includes character strings S21 and S22. The character stringS21 includes a character string which indicates that a correspondingplugin application is not installed. In addition, the character stringS21 includes a character string which indicates that it is possible touse the additional function in the image processing device 10 which isillustrated in the character string S22. An example of the characterstring S21 is “There is no application. The application is usable in thefollowing device(s).” The character string S22 illustrates a list ofimage processing devices 10 which can use the additional function. Inaddition, there is a case in which the image processing device 10displayed in the character string S22 includes both the image processingdevice 10S and the image processing device 10M. In the list, a deviceID, an installation location, and an IP address are denoted in each ofthe image processing devices 10. In addition, the list can be obtainedby making an inquiry with respect to the image processing device 10M.After the processing in Act 22, the processor 11S proceeds to Act 23.

In ACT 23, when an operation for closing the popup P2, for example, anoperation in which a margin of the popup P2 is operated, or the like, isperformed, the processor 11S finishes a display of the popup P2, andreturns to Act 7 in FIG. 6.

Meanwhile, when the image processing device 10S is set to not displaythe information related to the image processing device 10 in which theadditional function can be used, the processor 11S determines No in Act21, and proceeds to Act 24.

In Act 24, when an additional button in which a corresponding additionalfunction is unusable is operated, the processor 11S determines whetheror not the image processing device 10S is set so as to ask whether ornot the additional button should be set to non-display. When the imageprocessing device 10S is set to not ask whether or not the additionalbutton should be set to non-display, the processor 11S determines No inAct 24, and returns to Act 7 in FIG. 6. In contrast to this, when theimage processing device 10S is set so as to ask whether or not theadditional button should be set to non-display, the processor 11Sdetermines Yes in Act 24, and proceeds to Act 25 in FIG. 7.

In Act 25, the processor 11S causes the touch panel 16 to display ascreen for asking whether or not the operation button in which thecorresponding additional function is unusable should be set tonon-display. For this reason, the processor 11S generates an imagecorresponding to the screen. In addition, the processor 11S instructsthe touch panel 16 to display the generated image. Upon receiving theinstruction, the touch panel 16 displays the screen. The screen is ascreen illustrated in FIG. 12. FIG. 12 illustrates an example of ascreen which is displayed on the touch panel 16. The screen includes apopup P3. The popup P3 includes a character string S31, and buttons B31and B32. The character string S31 includes a character string whichindicates that a corresponding plugin application is not installed, anda character string which asks whether or not the operation button inwhich a corresponding additional function is unusable, should be set tonon-display. An example of the character string S31 is “There is noapplication. Do you want to make the button non-display?” The button B31is a button for instructing that the operation button is to set tonon-display. The button B32 is a button for instructing that theoperation button is to set to non-display. When the buttons B31 and B32are operated, the processor 11S finishes a display of the popup P3 afterthe processing in Act 25, and proceeds to Act 26.

In Act 27, the processor 11S determines whether or not the operationbutton should be set to non-display. When it is instructed so that theoperation button should not be set to non-display, for example, byoperating the button B32, or the like, the processor 11S determines thatthe operation button should not be set to non-display. When theoperation button should not be set to non-display, the processor 11Sdetermines No in Act 27, and returns to Act 7 in FIG. 6. In contrast tothis, when it is instructed so that the operation button should be setto non-display, for example, by operating the button B31, or the like,the processor 11S determines that the operation button should be set tonon-display. When the operation button should be set to non-display, theprocessor 11S determines Yes in Act 27, and proceeds to Act 28.

In Act 28, the processor 11S sets the operation button to non-display.That is, the processor 11S sets a value of field of a display method ofa record corresponding to the operation button to “non-display”, byrewriting the table T2. After the processing in Act 28, the processor11S returns to Act 7 in Act 6.

Hitherto, the operation of the image processing device 10S wasdescribed; however, the image processing device 10M can also perform thesame operation as that of the image processing device 10S. However, inthis case, the processor 11M performs processing instead of theprocessor 11S. In addition, in the above descriptions of operations,when it is necessary to receive data from the image processing device10M, the image processing device 10S obtain the data through the networkNW. However, such a process is not necessary for the image processingdevice 10M, and the image processing device 10M performs processing byreading data which is stored in its own auxiliary storage device 14,instead of obtaining the data from another image processing device.

As described above, there is a case in which a display method (normaldisplay, non-display, or display using dotted line) of additionalbuttons becomes different; however, for the same registered user, theadditional buttons which are displayed on a customized screen aresynchronized between a plurality of image processing devices 10.

According to the image processing system 1 of the embodiment, the imageprocessing device 10 sets a display of an additional buttoncorresponding to an additional function that cannot be used, to adisplay using a dotted line. Since the additional button is set to thedisplay using a dotted line, it gets a lower degree of attention fromthe user. Accordingly, in the image processing device 10, it is lesslikely that a user will operate an additional button which correspondsto an unusable additional function.

In addition, according to the image processing system 1, the imageprocessing device 10 sets a display of the additional button in which acorresponding additional function is unusable to non-display. Since itis set to non-display, a user does not even know of the presence of theadditional button. Accordingly, in the image processing device 10, it isnot possible for a user to operate the additional button whichcorresponds to the additional function which is unusable.

In addition, according to the image processing system 1 in theembodiment, the image processing device 10 can set a display method ofan additional button in which a corresponding additional function isunusable. In addition, the image processing device 10 displays theadditional button using a display method corresponding to the setting.Alternatively, the image processing device 10 sets the additional buttonto non-display according to the setting. Accordingly, a registered usercan set an additional button in which a corresponding additionalfunction is unusable to a display or non-display, using a desireddisplay method.

According to the image processing system 1 in the embodiment, when anadditional button in which a corresponding additional function isunusable is operated, the image processing device 10 sets the additionalbutton to non-display. Accordingly, the image processing device 10 canprevent the user from again operating the additional buttoncorresponding to the additional function which is unusable.

According to the image processing system 1 in the embodiment, when thereis an additional button in which a corresponding additional function isunusable, the image processing device 10 installs a plugin applicationcorresponding to the additional function, so that it becomes possible touse the additional function. As a result, the additional button nolonger corresponds to an additional function which is unusable.

According to the image processing system 1 in the embodiment, when thereis an additional button in which a corresponding additional function isunusable, the image processing device 10S displays information relatedto an image processing device 10 in which it is possible to use theadditional function. In this manner, a user who sees the information canmove to the image processing device 10 which is identified in theinformation. Accordingly, the user is prevented from further operatingthe additional button in the image processing device 10S in which theadditional button which corresponds to the additional function which isunusable.

The above described embodiment also can be modified as follows.

In the above described embodiment, the image processing device 10performs a display using a dotted line, as a display method of anadditional button in which a corresponding additional function isunusable; however, it is not limited to this. For example, the imageprocessing device 10 can use at least one of methods of using a dottedline, performing grayout, lowering opacity, lowering chroma, performinga reduced display, changing to a substitute icon which indicates that itis unusable, and changing a display using a method other than those. Inaddition, it may be a display method in which a plurality of the methodsare combined. In addition, a display method may be selected usingsetting from a plurality of types of these. A display method of these isan example of the second display format.

In the above described embodiment, when an additional button in which acorresponding additional function is unusable is operated, the imageprocessing device 10 sets the additional button to non-display byperforming a setting of non-display in Act 27. However, the imageprocessing device 10 may change the display method by setting theadditional button to the display using a dotted line, instead of settingthe additional button to non-display.

For the additional function, an information column for displayingspecific information may be used, instead of displaying additionalbuttons on the customized screen. When a normal display is used in thedisplay method, the information column displays information on the imageprocessing device 10 in real time, or at a specific timing. Theinformation is, for example, information which indicates a temperature,or the number of printing sheets of the image processing device 10,fault information, or information which indicates a state of toner ofthe image processing device, though it is not limited. Alternatively,the information may be news, or the like, which is obtained through thenetwork NW. When a display method is the display using a dotted line, auser is unable to use the information column. The information column isan example of an object. In addition, there may be an additionalfunction for displaying an object other than that, without being limitedto the additional button, and the information column. The other objectis an image, a moving image, or the like, for example.

In the above described embodiment, an additional button corresponds toan additional function. However, the additional button may be a buttonwhich executes a function which is originally installed in the imageprocessing device 10. That is, the additional button may be a buttonwhich can be added and deleted depending on setting of a registereduser.

In the above described embodiment, the image processing device 10obtains a plugin application which will be installed from the imageprocessing device 10M. However, the image processing device 10 mayobtain the plugin application from a removable storage device, or thelike, which is connected to the image processing device 10.Alternatively, the image processing device 10 may obtain the pluginapplication from a personal computer (PC) which is connected to thenetwork NW, a server, or the like.

A network architecture of the image processing system in the embodimentcan be a client-server model. That is, the image processing device 10Sis a client, and the image processing device 10M is a server. However,the network architecture of the image processing system in theembodiment is not limited to the client-server model. For example, thenetwork architecture of the image processing system in the embodimentmay be a peer to peer (P2P) model. In this case, the image processingdevice 10 is operated without distinction of master and slave, forexample. In addition, a user DB is stored by a plurality of imageprocessing devices 10 using a mechanism such as a distributed filesystem, or a distributed data store, for example.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming device comprising: a communication interface; a printer configured to form an image on a medium; a memory in which first information is stored, the first information indicating one or more function IDs of one or more image forming device functions associated with a user ID; and a processor configured to: receive, through the communication interface, second information indicating one or more function IDs of one or more image forming device functions available in another image forming device in an image forming device network, the second information being associated with the user ID; determine whether or not an image forming device function identified by a function ID included in the second information and not included in the first information is available in the image forming device; after determining that the image forming device function identified by the function ID included in the second information and not included in the first information is unavailable in the image forming device, install an application program corresponding to the image forming device function unavailable in the image forming device during login of a user identified by the user ID; update the first information by adding a function ID of the image forming device function corresponding to the installed application program in association with the user ID; and control the communication interface to transmit the updated first information.
 2. The image forming device according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface is communicable with one or more image forming devices in an image forming device network, and the processor controls the communication interface to transmit the updated first information to another image forming device in the image forming device network.
 3. The image forming device according to claim 2, wherein the image forming device is a slave image forming device, and said another image forming device is a master image forming device.
 4. The image forming device according to claim 1, wherein the first information also indicates a display format of a display item corresponding to each of the one or more image forming device functions associated with the user ID.
 5. The image forming device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive a user instruction indicating addition of an image forming device function; determine whether or not the image forming device function indicated by the user instruction is available in the image forming device; and after determining that the image forming device function indicated by the user instruction is unavailable in the image forming device, install an application program corresponding to the image forming device function indicated by the user instruction.
 6. A method of controlling an image forming device included in an image forming device network, the method comprising: storing, in a memory, first information indicating one or more function IDs of one or more image forming device functions associated with a user ID; receiving, through the communication interface, second information indicating one or more function IDs of one or more image forming device functions available in another image forming device in an image forming device network, the second information being associated with the user ID; determining whether or not an image forming device function identified by a function ID included in the second information and not included in the first information is available in the image forming device, after determining that the image forming device function identified by the function ID included in the second information and not included in the first information is unavailable in the image forming device, installing an application program corresponding to the image forming device function unavailable in the image forming device during login of a user identified by the user ID; updating the first information by adding a function ID of the image forming device function corresponding to the installed application program in association with the user ID; and controlling a communication interface to transmit the updated first information.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the updated first information is transmitted to another image forming device in the image forming device network.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the image forming device is a slave image forming device, and said another image forming device is a master image forming device.
 9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first information also indicates a display format of a display item corresponding to each of the one or more image forming device functions associated with the user ID.
 10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: receiving a user instruction indicating addition of an image forming device function; determining whether or not the image forming device function indicated by the user instruction is available in the image forming device; and after determining that the image forming device function indicated by the user instruction is unavailable in the image forming device, installing an application program corresponding to the image forming device function indicated by the user instruction. 